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22nd May 2016 | ManchesterManchester Launch Write-up

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As a designer, I’m well aware of Manchester's vibrant creative scene. I've been aware of Glug for a while and there's a real buzz about the events. In conjunction with The Neighbourhood and The Agency Collective, FARM Digital were proud to launch the first Glug Manchester.

Glug is a series of talks and informal networking. Glug have hosted events in New York, Beijing, Auckland and Stockholm as well as a host of UK cities, where better to launch than in the heart of Manchester's Northern Quarter? Noho was the venue for the launch and we had three fantastic speakers kicking off the first event.

The Talks

After a brief chance to network, the event was introduced by FARM's Rob Edwards. The Glug ethos is simple; celebrate the new, be nice and make friends.

The first talk was Working for Good by Dave Bird. Dave is on a quest, to bring positive creativity to design; Dave outlined his process at the Neighbourhood.

Next was The Dark Side of the Internet by Phil Winstanley. Phil would delve into the dark underworld of the Internet, the so called “Dark Web”. Who operates on the dark web? What’s down there? And who’s protecting us? This area of the internet is a relative mystery to most - but it's fascinating to learn what’s down there, and how Microsoft are taking steps to safeguard against the more nefarious uses.

Finally, Designing for Evil by Barry Briggs. Not all UX strives to improve customer experience, so what happens when UX is used for evil? Delving into the darker side of user experience. Barry talked about how UX is used to mislead, confuse and manipulate users.

Notworking or Networking

The event ended with a “notworking” session. An opportunity to meet fellow creatives and discuss the talks. With a slice of the free pizza and an open bar conversation flowed and it was a great opportunity to meet colleagues in the industry.

Glug Manchester was a great success and looks set to be a regular fixture of the Manchester creative scene, and we look forward to seeing you at the next event.